April 7, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini spotlights three remarkable student artists featured in this year’s Wesleyan Artist Market. Eighth graders Kimberly Wang and Nika Jensen, along with sixth grader Carter Jensen, share their creative journeys—ranging from edible art like fruit jellies and peppermint bark to handmade jewelry and custom-designed bags.
Kimberly talks about her love for food art and balancing sweetness with fruity freshness, while Nika and Carter discuss building a jewelry business that also gives back—donating proceeds to families in the Philippines. This isn’t just an artist market; it’s a showcase of purpose-driven, globally inspired young talent. The event runs April 25–26 at Wesleyan School and is open to the public.
✅ Podcast Takeaways:
Kimberly talks about her love for food art and balancing sweetness with fruity freshness, while Nika and Carter discuss building a jewelry business that also gives back—donating proceeds to families in the Philippines. This isn’t just an artist market; it’s a showcase of purpose-driven, globally inspired young talent. The event runs April 25–26 at Wesleyan School and is open to the public.
✅ Podcast Takeaways:
- Kimberly Wang creates handmade edible treats, balancing flavor and freshness for the show.
- Nika and Carter Jensen co-run a jewelry and fashion accessory business, inspired by global travel and cultural experiences.
- Nika donates part of her proceeds to support families in the Philippines.
- All three students are deeply involved in extracurriculars—from musicals and marching band to math club and academic bowl.
- The Wesleyan Artist Market features 24 student artists and over 70 professionals—open to the public April 25–26.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Something similar where we gave out food and can goods
over Christmas to poor families there.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
So that just really touched me. And so ever since
we got back.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
To you're listening to Peachtree Corner's Life, a podcast sharing ideas, opinions,
and news about the city of Peachtree Corners, the community
we live in and the people that are your neighbors.
Now your host, Rego Figliolini.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Hey, everyone, this is Rico Figliolini, hosts a Petre Corner's Life.
We have a great set of guests today. Because of
the upcoming Wesley and Artist Market, we thought we'd do
some interviews with student artists. Three of the twenty four
that are going to be at Wesleyan Autist Market, so
they're with me here today, so we're going to get
right into that shortly. I just want to say thank
(00:51):
you to our corporate sponsors. So I want to say
thank you to ev Remodeling Inc. Based here in Peachtree Corners,
the owner of ELI him and his family live here.
They're great. They do a lot of design work. Design
your space essentially any home remodeling you need from whether
it's your kitchen, your bathroom, or a whole house remodel
or even in addition to your home. Think about it.
(01:14):
Whatever you need, you like can handle. So check them out.
Go to evremodelingink dot com and find out how they
can design your space in your life. Our next sponsor
just came on and they had vox Popular. I want
to thank them for joining us as well. They deal
with all sorts of things you can imagine putting your
logo on. Similar to a little bit about what these
(01:35):
kids do right, they're creating artwork, they're creating a brand
for themselves, and so this is what vox Popular does right.
They'll take your brand and bring it to life centually
anything that you can think of that we go on apparel,
whether it's sweaters or t shirts, or wherever you want
to put your brand, engraving your logo, what object you
want to put it on, even vehicle wraps, so if
(01:58):
you've got a truck you want to put a whole
wrap around, check them out because they can do that.
They're here in Peachtree Corners and they call it called
Fox Popular, So visit their website. I'll have the links
in the show notes as well. So thank you guys.
I appreciate your support. So now let's get right into it.
Let me introduce how three artists great Wesleyan students can't
(02:19):
wait to start talking to them. We have Kimberly Wang
first on your left, on my left, and Nika and
her brother Carter Jensen, who work together creating the artwork
they do. So I'm going to ask you guys just
to you know, give me a little background. Tell me
who you are, your grade, what you do, extracurricular stuff
(02:40):
like that. This is way audience can get to know
a little bit more about you. So let's start with
Kimberly Wang.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Hey, Kimberly, my name is Kimberly Wang. I am in
eighth grade this year, and outside of Artist Market, I
do a marching band and I also do the musical
production this year, which is Matilda.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Excellent. What about how about you?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I'm also in eighth grade. My name is Nika Jensen,
and apart from doing the Artist Market, I do cross country.
I'm also in Matilda this year, and I also do
Math Counts, which is a math club.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Okay cool?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
And Carter, Hello, my name is Carter Jensen.
Speaker 6 (03:18):
I'm in the sixth grade and outside of the Artist Market,
I do academic pool and I also do basketball.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
That's fine, all right? Cool? So, so the have you
guys ever done the artist market before? Is this the
first time?
Speaker 5 (03:34):
This is my second year doing it this year?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Second?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, this is our first year because we're new students
this year.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Okay, cool? What inspired you to get into it, Nika?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well, I had my own business before we came to Wesleyan,
and so I thought that the artist market is a
good way to like show my business to other people
in our community.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
So and you brought in your brought the carter to
help you with.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yes, the business?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Cool? Okay. So, so, Kimberly, food, food is our right.
I'm sure your mom would probably say it's food, just
eat it. But you're playing with your food essentially what
they used to tell you not to do. Right, So
(04:28):
when you create your food or what do you think about?
How do you go through this? What do you how
do you choose what you're doing? What do you exactly do?
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So this year I am making fruit jellies and peppermint bark.
And when I think about what creations I want to
make for the artists Market, I go online and I
look through, like what are some popular desserts that a
lot of people like. And once I choose my items,
then I go through the recipe and then I do
(04:58):
a lot of trial and errors to make sure that
like the products are like healthy and they taste well.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
So they have to be edible, right, because this is
edible arc.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Definitely?
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Yes, So are you eating a lot of the edible
ark before you get to what you need?
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Not really, I don't usually taste a lot of the food.
I let my family taste it.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Ah good, I like that, Yes, get them to participate. Cool.
So edible art that's one way of doing it. Jewelry
that's something else, right, wearable. So how do you, guys,
Nika Carter? How do you get to the place that
of what you do? So?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I started my business when I was eleven years old,
and it started like I got my first jewelry making
kit and I kind of just expanded from there. So,
like I usually use Amazon to search and find like
the prettiest designs like of earrings and pendants and get
opinions from other people like my mom and my family
(06:03):
to see like if they think it's like wearable and
if they like it. So I rose on Amazon for
a while and I find like the best in high
quality products and then I handmake them at home, usually
like every day after I come home from school. So
and my brother he does something else and he can
(06:24):
tell you about that.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
I my sister, she got a cricket machine for like
her twelve birthday, I think, right, and started making these
like iron on bags with the cricket machine and like
making them based on like Georgia and like Wesleyan and
designing it based.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
On be all right, hope, So let's get back to Kimberly.
The food that you do. Do you have particular flavors
you like? Do you have particular areas that you stay in?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
So this year I'm trying out like something more sweet
with chocolate, but last year I definitely went for more
of like the fruity side. And I think I like
to keep it like a balance so that way one
is not overpowering the other. My personal favorite will probably
be fruit because it's healthy and.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
I mean it just tastes good in general.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Okay, all right, cool, what's the most rewarding part that
you can think of of making edible or well, I.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Mean, definitely, like you said before, you get to eat
a lot of food. I mean, I did say before
that I don't eat a lot of the creations that
I've made, but sometimes I still do eat it. And
so I think it's also really rewarding to see like
people try out your creations and see like their reactions
to what they.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Think of it. So when I know, I know, I've
spoken to other artists when they sell their artwork like
paintings or stuff like that, they get a chance to
see it. Sometimes when the fan that bought it, if
you will, would send them a picture of where they
hung it, right, yours disappears right exactly. So uh yeah,
(08:13):
I guess there's nowhere to short of doing a selfie
with it or taking pictures of her. There's no there's
no permanency to it. So how does that feel?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
I mean, well, as long as the people enjoy it,
that's good. And I mean I think mainly it's about
like the memory that you have of having the food,
and if you like it, then it stays has a
good memory for you. And if you don't, then I mean,
you can always try out different things.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
So, okay, Nika Carter, as far as the jewelry goes,
the you've used it to raise money support children in
the Philippines. Yes, sir, that is that how you started
this when you were eleven? Is that the reason?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Or no?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I was like eleven during the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I was always looking for a way to express
my creativity, and so that's how I started my own business.
And so I was selling at my uncle's pharmacy, and
I was saving up the money to use for like
college or for like other events later on in my life.
But this last year and a half before this school year,
we were living in the Philippines, and so I was
(09:26):
really touched by all of the families there, and we
even did something similar where we gave out food and
can goods over Christmas to poor families there.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So that just really touched me.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
And so ever since we got back to America, I've
been donating part of my profits to other families in
the Philippines.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
So caught it. Did you end up going on that
trip as well?
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Yeah, I was with her. We like stayed there for
about a year and a half. We also did like
schooling there, and.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
You it's it's interesting brothers and sisters. I have three kids,
and you know, growing up brothers and sisters always there
could be dynamics there. So how do you get along?
Do you ever say to your sister, I don't know
about that. You know that might not look as good.
So do you give good feedback? I mean, how do
you praise her? Or how do you work together?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Like she's more of the leader of the business, so
like I usually just like try to like what's try
to like agree with her and.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Like, yeah, all right, that's cool. Well, you need a
leader of the pack sometimes, right, So, Nika, the artwork
that you do, you know, this is part of what
you do. You've mentioned other things you do, right, I
know you're young, you all are, you know, you're not
old enough to really think, well, maybe you are to
(10:55):
really think what you want to do with your life? Right?
Is art something that you want to keep as part
of what you're doing in your life.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It's definitely something that's of great value to me. But
I kind of want to pursue the medical field, but
art is also really important to me.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
So okay, sounds good. Same question to Kimberly, what about you?
How do you feel about the work you're there?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I definitely enjoy making food, but like Nica said, I
was also really interested in the medical field, and so like,
I'm not really sure if I'm going to continue pursuing this,
but I mean it's definitely brought me a lot of
joy while doing food and art.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Okay, medical field, both of you, And that's cool. What
about Carter? How about you?
Speaker 6 (11:43):
I kind of like I like doing art. It's one
way to like expect your creativity, as my sister said,
But I also kind of I'm not really sure what
I want to do when I.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Grew up maybe at Okay, well, art work gives you
a chance to play a little bit, to be able
to also see how people like Kimberly, like you said
about how when people see your food or taste your
food and your food are if you will, and it
gives you a chance to see how people appreciate what
(12:15):
you're doing. I think, right, the challenges of making food
are and keeping it fresh and making sure you're going
to deliver it on the right way. I guess at
the Wesleyan Audist market, how do you handle that part
of it?
Speaker 5 (12:30):
So for me, the night before each day of the selling,
I would stay up really late and I make all
my products so they're all fresh and they're all new
because I want the best for the people that are
eating the food, because I don't want anything to go
bad overnight, and so I make sure that it's always
(12:50):
new products and I make it.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, we don't have the same issue with the jewelry
that you do, so that could last forever, right, but
putting it together, sourcing the supplies, right of what you do,
the logistics of it, I guess how do you handle that,
like getting all the materials together. Do you order it
(13:14):
all on Amazon?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Or Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I order like ninety nine percent of all of my
things from Amazon, and then since I already have the
materials shipped to me, then all I have to do
is just create them from like my house. So it's
easier for me than having to go out and buy
supplies at stores.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
So sounds good. What inspires you as far as jewelry goes.
I know that you said you look online to see
other things what the trend is. So where where do
you find most of your trends? Is it just on
Amazon or is it social media other places.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I kind of observe other people and like what they
wear and also social media, and I get a lot
of inspiration also from like nature and from like my travels.
We've been to a lot of countries in the past
five years.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
One hundred seventy three countries?
Speaker 4 (14:08):
How many?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So sorry, not one hundred and seventy three seventy three countries.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Seventy three countries, yes, sir, Wait that you've that you've
been to in how many youths? I can't even can
wrap my head around that. How did you even do that? Teleport?
I mean, how'd you do that? Like? That's? Wow?
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (14:30):
You where? What is? What is your heritage? If you don't?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Mommy asca, I'm half Filipino. My brother and are half Filipino,
and then my father is part Danish and then also Americans.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
So do you speak any languages?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I speak the language of the Philippines called the Galog,
and then English and I'm learning Spanish.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
So really okay, Kimberly, how about you?
Speaker 5 (14:57):
So my mom is Taiwanese and mine that is Chinese,
So I speak Chinese English, I'm learning French, and I'm
learning Korean.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Really wow? Okay speak Mandarin? Is it? Yeah? My son
was learning that for a year and he was it
was It's a tough language to learn, but I'm sure
being able to travel for example, Nika, to be able
to see all the other countries and inspiration from those countries.
(15:28):
What of the seventy three seventy five countries you visited,
what would you say the top five would be for
that type of inspiration? Can you pick that up?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I really like Argentina just because it's so unique and
the culture is just so strong there, like you really
feel so immersed just when you like step into the country.
I like Italy not only because of the food, but
that's also where I got a lot of inspiration for
my jewelry, just like the glass in Venice, like the
(16:04):
Marano glass, Like that's also a really big inspiration. In Turkey,
that's when I first like found my interests in jewelry
because there was we went to this speed store and
there was like thousands of different beads and I got
to like choose different charms and like experiment with creating jewelry.
(16:24):
So Turkey, Argentina, Italy, and then I have to give
it to the Philippines obviously because we lived there for
so long, and then that's hard.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
What do you think, Carter?
Speaker 6 (16:38):
I like India because I really like butter chicken and
poka so like Italy because they pizza is my pasta.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yes, I can't get any better pizza than Italy, that's
for sure.
Speaker 6 (16:54):
It's really good. And I also like Japan because it's
very like futuristic and it's like it's so yeah, it's
like like environment and.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It's like really cool. Yeah, I can't wait. I think
we're I think we may be heading there in July,
so that that would be fun. I've never been, so
that would be interesting cool. So with the artwork, with
the inspiration, with the journey that you guys have been on,
(17:26):
do you think that are there any artists it's hard
in food maybe unless it's Gordon Ramsey or something, But
do you draw any inspiration? Who do you draw inspiration
from for the work for what you do? Let's start
with Kimberly.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
I don't really have a specific artist that I look
up to, but I do watch some cooking shows and
some like dessert making shows, and they always really inspire me.
So I feel like that's what.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Really led me into like starting food art.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
And so I was like, whoa, this is really cool,
and so I was like, okay, let me try this.
And so now I'm here and then I'm like, this
is pretty fun.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Oh okay, Carter with I know you're not the main
person doing the artwork, but do you do you see?
What do you see when you're doing when you're working
with your sister? How does that feel working with her
doing the stuff with her, the art, artwork and whatever
you're doing with her? How do you know? What's that
(18:34):
journey feel like for a brother and his sister.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
It's kind of shame like doing the artwork and life
really like feeling out like the stickers on the bags.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
And okay, all right, that's cool, sister. How do you feel?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I just enjoy anytime.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I'm like I get to make jewelry because I feel
like it's such like an important thing to me. And
it also, like my brother said, it's really relaxing and
just like sitting in our home and just like making jewelry.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It's like it's really fun for me.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Do you wear I'm assuming you wear some of the
stuff you make?
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
No, actually I don't have my ears pears, and so
I just like making it and seeing my creations on
other people.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
That okay, cool, Kimberly. Do you ever like decide I
got to make something? I want to eat something? Do
you ever decide to do that or is it always
just for the art?
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I think mainly just for the art, because I mean
I do piano outside of school and so most of
my time is sucked into that. But I mean sometimes
if I do want to make something, yeah, I'll go
for it and I'll try my best.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
But have you ever been have you ever designed anything
custom design because someone requested it from you? Like, has
anyone ever asked Kimbali? Has any anyone ever asked, yeah,
can you make that for me? Like aside from the
artwork yourself? Right?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
I did get one request by a high score to
make peppermint bark for him or science costs, but like.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Other than that, Okay, how about Nika, Have you ever
had a request for jewelry?
Speaker 5 (20:28):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (20:29):
I have.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
My mom was posting some of my creations on social
media and someone reached out to me and she wanted
Lego ear rings like so little like Lego figurines as
ear rings. So I used some of my own legos
and then we also bought some. But I drilled a
(20:52):
hole on top of their head and I had to
stick a screw inside.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I mail it to them and then they sent me
a picture of them.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Wearing it and it was on it's just the way
you we're describing it, drilling the hole in the town,
just like all right, well that's that's good. So here's
the art. Do you do anything for our I guess
that's good. Great. We've been showcasing and talking a lot
about oura and food and stuff. What are you looking
forward to this year's wesley An Artists Market? What is
(21:28):
it that's looking forward? You have this this three of
you out of twenty four other students. Have you seen
or talk to other students and what they're doing for
the for the show, for the market? What are you
looking forward to to me? Yeah, sure, let's go to it.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yes, Kimberly and I are actually really good friends. So
we've been like talking with our other friends that are
doing the arts market and you know what they're selling,
and yeah, I'm just really excited because we've never my
brother and I have never done something like this before.
So I think it'll be a really good opportunity and
it'll be fun.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
So excellent, something something wholly new, that's good, good experience.
How about you, Kimberly?
Speaker 5 (22:09):
So ever since last year. I was really astonished by
everything I saw, even if it was like the adult artist,
but like the like the student artists. They were all
so talented. I know, like a few other people are
making food art and people like Nita Armani jewelry, and
so I'm honestly really inspired and just really blown away
(22:33):
by all the effort that everyone puts in.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Anything that I've not touched on. Guys that you want
to share about individually, about what you know, what it
takes to do what you're doing, or your experience at Wesleyan,
why don't we start with Kimberleka.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I don't really have much. I feel like this was
a really nice opportunity to be able to like share
what like westling artists market as well, and like how
students have been able to participate in MIKA.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Oh yeah, so my mom printed out pictures of our
time in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
So this first.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
One, it's all the bags of food that my old
school donated to families in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Excellent, OK, I got it.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
I'm glad you printed those, huh.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And then this is my old class.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
This was this year when I sent my profits back
to the Philippines and those are all the boxes of
food and clothes that they wow get with that money.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
So you really did make a lot of money. That's good,
that's great. And maybe at some point I'll ask Camille
on this getting some pictures from you all of some
of the artwork that you've done. I'd love to include
that when we post the podcast as well. And if
you have any social media that where you post your
art work on, if it's public, feel free. We're going
(24:03):
to be sharing this and we'll be taking you all
as well. I think we got everything covered. I mean,
you all just unbelievable kids. You're just doing great work
and I'm just like, it's always great to talk to
you to Wesleyan students just like well, to students that
are motivated put it that way to do things. So
(24:25):
glad to see that you're doing all sorts of things.
And I still can't wrap my head around seventy five countries.
I'm just still trying to think that just like in
five years, I can't even see doing that. But I
want to thank you all for joining me. So this
is Wesley and Audist Market you all will be at,
and that's April Friday, the twenty fifth from ten to
(24:46):
seven pm and Saturday, April twenty six from ten to
three pm. We've been talking with Kimberly Wang who does
food art Edible food Art, and Nika and her brother
Carter Jensen, who do jewelry. Appreciate you guys being with
me and being so talkative and just being good good guests.
(25:07):
So thank you all hanging there with me for a second.
Everyone else, I want to say thank you again for
joining us. You can find out more about Wesley and
Artist Market from just going to Wesleyanschool dot org or
just googling Wesley and Artist Market. It will pop up
for you and it's open to the public Friday and
Saturday in April, so check them out. Visit the twenty
(25:29):
four students that are displaying their artwork as well, along
with the over I think it's over seventy professional artists there.
And thank you all from I guess you're in Wesley
and Wolf TV station too, so appy good to doing
that with me, So thank you everyone. Stay well.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Thanks for listening to Peachtree Corners Life with Rico Figliolini.
You can listen to the show wherever podcasts are found,
like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Leave us a review too,
it helps others find the show as well. Don't forget
to like our Facebook page and YouTube channel for notifications
of our live simulcast video streams of the show. Catch
(26:14):
our other podcast shows at Living in Peachtree Corners dot com.
In fact, you can listen to our other popular show,
The Capitalist Sage, a twice a month podcast about and
four businesses. The show brings you interviews with business owners,
leaders and subject matter experts. Find what you need to
meet today's challenges that every business owner faces. Check out
(26:36):
the show at The Capitalistsage dot com
Something similar where we gave out food and can goods
over Christmas to poor families there.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
So that just really touched me. And so ever since
we got back.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
To you're listening to Peachtree Corner's Life, a podcast sharing ideas, opinions,
and news about the city of Peachtree Corners, the community
we live in and the people that are your neighbors.
Now your host, Rego Figliolini.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Hey, everyone, this is Rico Figliolini, hosts a Petre Corner's Life.
We have a great set of guests today. Because of
the upcoming Wesley and Artist Market, we thought we'd do
some interviews with student artists. Three of the twenty four
that are going to be at Wesleyan Autist Market, so
they're with me here today, so we're going to get
right into that shortly. I just want to say thank
(00:51):
you to our corporate sponsors. So I want to say
thank you to ev Remodeling Inc. Based here in Peachtree Corners,
the owner of ELI him and his family live here.
They're great. They do a lot of design work. Design
your space essentially any home remodeling you need from whether
it's your kitchen, your bathroom, or a whole house remodel
or even in addition to your home. Think about it.
(01:14):
Whatever you need, you like can handle. So check them out.
Go to evremodelingink dot com and find out how they
can design your space in your life. Our next sponsor
just came on and they had vox Popular. I want
to thank them for joining us as well. They deal
with all sorts of things you can imagine putting your
logo on. Similar to a little bit about what these
(01:35):
kids do right, they're creating artwork, they're creating a brand
for themselves, and so this is what vox Popular does right.
They'll take your brand and bring it to life centually
anything that you can think of that we go on apparel,
whether it's sweaters or t shirts, or wherever you want
to put your brand, engraving your logo, what object you
want to put it on, even vehicle wraps, so if
(01:58):
you've got a truck you want to put a whole
wrap around, check them out because they can do that.
They're here in Peachtree Corners and they call it called
Fox Popular, So visit their website. I'll have the links
in the show notes as well. So thank you guys.
I appreciate your support. So now let's get right into it.
Let me introduce how three artists great Wesleyan students can't
(02:19):
wait to start talking to them. We have Kimberly Wang
first on your left, on my left, and Nika and
her brother Carter Jensen, who work together creating the artwork
they do. So I'm going to ask you guys just
to you know, give me a little background. Tell me
who you are, your grade, what you do, extracurricular stuff
(02:40):
like that. This is way audience can get to know
a little bit more about you. So let's start with
Kimberly Wang.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Hey, Kimberly, my name is Kimberly Wang. I am in
eighth grade this year, and outside of Artist Market, I
do a marching band and I also do the musical
production this year, which is Matilda.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Excellent. What about how about you?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I'm also in eighth grade. My name is Nika Jensen,
and apart from doing the Artist Market, I do cross country.
I'm also in Matilda this year, and I also do
Math Counts, which is a math club.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Okay cool?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
And Carter, Hello, my name is Carter Jensen.
Speaker 6 (03:18):
I'm in the sixth grade and outside of the Artist Market,
I do academic pool and I also do basketball.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
That's fine, all right? Cool? So, so the have you
guys ever done the artist market before? Is this the
first time?
Speaker 5 (03:34):
This is my second year doing it this year?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Second?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, this is our first year because we're new students
this year.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Okay, cool? What inspired you to get into it, Nika?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well, I had my own business before we came to Wesleyan,
and so I thought that the artist market is a
good way to like show my business to other people
in our community.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
So and you brought in your brought the carter to
help you with.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yes, the business?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Cool? Okay. So, so, Kimberly, food, food is our right.
I'm sure your mom would probably say it's food, just
eat it. But you're playing with your food essentially what
they used to tell you not to do. Right, So
(04:28):
when you create your food or what do you think about?
How do you go through this? What do you how
do you choose what you're doing? What do you exactly do?
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So this year I am making fruit jellies and peppermint bark.
And when I think about what creations I want to
make for the artists Market, I go online and I
look through, like what are some popular desserts that a
lot of people like. And once I choose my items,
then I go through the recipe and then I do
(04:58):
a lot of trial and errors to make sure that
like the products are like healthy and they taste well.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
So they have to be edible, right, because this is
edible arc.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Definitely?
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Yes, So are you eating a lot of the edible
ark before you get to what you need?
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Not really, I don't usually taste a lot of the food.
I let my family taste it.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Ah good, I like that, Yes, get them to participate. Cool.
So edible art that's one way of doing it. Jewelry
that's something else, right, wearable. So how do you, guys,
Nika Carter? How do you get to the place that
of what you do? So?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I started my business when I was eleven years old,
and it started like I got my first jewelry making
kit and I kind of just expanded from there. So,
like I usually use Amazon to search and find like
the prettiest designs like of earrings and pendants and get
opinions from other people like my mom and my family
(06:03):
to see like if they think it's like wearable and
if they like it. So I rose on Amazon for
a while and I find like the best in high
quality products and then I handmake them at home, usually
like every day after I come home from school. So
and my brother he does something else and he can
(06:24):
tell you about that.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
I my sister, she got a cricket machine for like
her twelve birthday, I think, right, and started making these
like iron on bags with the cricket machine and like
making them based on like Georgia and like Wesleyan and
designing it based.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
On be all right, hope, So let's get back to Kimberly.
The food that you do. Do you have particular flavors
you like? Do you have particular areas that you stay in?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
So this year I'm trying out like something more sweet
with chocolate, but last year I definitely went for more
of like the fruity side. And I think I like
to keep it like a balance so that way one
is not overpowering the other. My personal favorite will probably
be fruit because it's healthy and.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
I mean it just tastes good in general.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Okay, all right, cool, what's the most rewarding part that
you can think of of making edible or well, I.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Mean, definitely, like you said before, you get to eat
a lot of food. I mean, I did say before
that I don't eat a lot of the creations that
I've made, but sometimes I still do eat it. And
so I think it's also really rewarding to see like
people try out your creations and see like their reactions
to what they.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Think of it. So when I know, I know, I've
spoken to other artists when they sell their artwork like
paintings or stuff like that, they get a chance to
see it. Sometimes when the fan that bought it, if
you will, would send them a picture of where they
hung it, right, yours disappears right exactly. So uh yeah,
(08:13):
I guess there's nowhere to short of doing a selfie
with it or taking pictures of her. There's no there's
no permanency to it. So how does that feel?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
I mean, well, as long as the people enjoy it,
that's good. And I mean I think mainly it's about
like the memory that you have of having the food,
and if you like it, then it stays has a
good memory for you. And if you don't, then I mean,
you can always try out different things.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
So, okay, Nika Carter, as far as the jewelry goes,
the you've used it to raise money support children in
the Philippines. Yes, sir, that is that how you started
this when you were eleven? Is that the reason?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Or no?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I was like eleven during the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I was always looking for a way to express
my creativity, and so that's how I started my own business.
And so I was selling at my uncle's pharmacy, and
I was saving up the money to use for like
college or for like other events later on in my life.
But this last year and a half before this school year,
we were living in the Philippines, and so I was
(09:26):
really touched by all of the families there, and we
even did something similar where we gave out food and
can goods over Christmas to poor families there.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So that just really touched me.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
And so ever since we got back to America, I've
been donating part of my profits to other families in
the Philippines.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
So caught it. Did you end up going on that
trip as well?
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Yeah, I was with her. We like stayed there for
about a year and a half. We also did like
schooling there, and.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
You it's it's interesting brothers and sisters. I have three kids,
and you know, growing up brothers and sisters always there
could be dynamics there. So how do you get along?
Do you ever say to your sister, I don't know
about that. You know that might not look as good.
So do you give good feedback? I mean, how do
you praise her? Or how do you work together?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Like she's more of the leader of the business, so
like I usually just like try to like what's try
to like agree with her and.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Like, yeah, all right, that's cool. Well, you need a
leader of the pack sometimes, right, So, Nika, the artwork
that you do, you know, this is part of what
you do. You've mentioned other things you do, right, I
know you're young, you all are, you know, you're not
old enough to really think, well, maybe you are to
(10:55):
really think what you want to do with your life? Right?
Is art something that you want to keep as part
of what you're doing in your life.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It's definitely something that's of great value to me. But
I kind of want to pursue the medical field, but
art is also really important to me.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
So okay, sounds good. Same question to Kimberly, what about you?
How do you feel about the work you're there?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I definitely enjoy making food, but like Nica said, I
was also really interested in the medical field, and so like,
I'm not really sure if I'm going to continue pursuing this,
but I mean it's definitely brought me a lot of
joy while doing food and art.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Okay, medical field, both of you, And that's cool. What
about Carter? How about you?
Speaker 6 (11:43):
I kind of like I like doing art. It's one
way to like expect your creativity, as my sister said,
But I also kind of I'm not really sure what
I want to do when I.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Grew up maybe at Okay, well, art work gives you
a chance to play a little bit, to be able
to also see how people like Kimberly, like you said
about how when people see your food or taste your
food and your food are if you will, and it
gives you a chance to see how people appreciate what
(12:15):
you're doing. I think, right, the challenges of making food
are and keeping it fresh and making sure you're going
to deliver it on the right way. I guess at
the Wesleyan Audist market, how do you handle that part
of it?
Speaker 5 (12:30):
So for me, the night before each day of the selling,
I would stay up really late and I make all
my products so they're all fresh and they're all new
because I want the best for the people that are
eating the food, because I don't want anything to go
bad overnight, and so I make sure that it's always
(12:50):
new products and I make it.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, we don't have the same issue with the jewelry
that you do, so that could last forever, right, but
putting it together, sourcing the supplies, right of what you do,
the logistics of it, I guess how do you handle that,
like getting all the materials together. Do you order it
(13:14):
all on Amazon?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Or Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I order like ninety nine percent of all of my
things from Amazon, and then since I already have the
materials shipped to me, then all I have to do
is just create them from like my house. So it's
easier for me than having to go out and buy
supplies at stores.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
So sounds good. What inspires you as far as jewelry goes.
I know that you said you look online to see
other things what the trend is. So where where do
you find most of your trends? Is it just on
Amazon or is it social media other places.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I kind of observe other people and like what they
wear and also social media, and I get a lot
of inspiration also from like nature and from like my travels.
We've been to a lot of countries in the past
five years.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
One hundred seventy three countries?
Speaker 4 (14:08):
How many?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So sorry, not one hundred and seventy three seventy three countries.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Seventy three countries, yes, sir, Wait that you've that you've
been to in how many youths? I can't even can
wrap my head around that. How did you even do that? Teleport?
I mean, how'd you do that? Like? That's? Wow?
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (14:30):
You where? What is? What is your heritage? If you don't?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Mommy asca, I'm half Filipino. My brother and are half Filipino,
and then my father is part Danish and then also Americans.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
So do you speak any languages?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I speak the language of the Philippines called the Galog,
and then English and I'm learning Spanish.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
So really okay, Kimberly, how about you?
Speaker 5 (14:57):
So my mom is Taiwanese and mine that is Chinese,
So I speak Chinese English, I'm learning French, and I'm
learning Korean.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Really wow? Okay speak Mandarin? Is it? Yeah? My son
was learning that for a year and he was it
was It's a tough language to learn, but I'm sure
being able to travel for example, Nika, to be able
to see all the other countries and inspiration from those countries.
(15:28):
What of the seventy three seventy five countries you visited,
what would you say the top five would be for
that type of inspiration? Can you pick that up?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I really like Argentina just because it's so unique and
the culture is just so strong there, like you really
feel so immersed just when you like step into the country.
I like Italy not only because of the food, but
that's also where I got a lot of inspiration for
my jewelry, just like the glass in Venice, like the
(16:04):
Marano glass, Like that's also a really big inspiration. In Turkey,
that's when I first like found my interests in jewelry
because there was we went to this speed store and
there was like thousands of different beads and I got
to like choose different charms and like experiment with creating jewelry.
(16:24):
So Turkey, Argentina, Italy, and then I have to give
it to the Philippines obviously because we lived there for
so long, and then that's hard.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
What do you think, Carter?
Speaker 6 (16:38):
I like India because I really like butter chicken and
poka so like Italy because they pizza is my pasta.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yes, I can't get any better pizza than Italy, that's
for sure.
Speaker 6 (16:54):
It's really good. And I also like Japan because it's
very like futuristic and it's like it's so yeah, it's
like like environment and.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It's like really cool. Yeah, I can't wait. I think
we're I think we may be heading there in July,
so that that would be fun. I've never been, so
that would be interesting cool. So with the artwork, with
the inspiration, with the journey that you guys have been on,
(17:26):
do you think that are there any artists it's hard
in food maybe unless it's Gordon Ramsey or something, But
do you draw any inspiration? Who do you draw inspiration
from for the work for what you do? Let's start
with Kimberly.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
I don't really have a specific artist that I look
up to, but I do watch some cooking shows and
some like dessert making shows, and they always really inspire me.
So I feel like that's what.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Really led me into like starting food art.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
And so I was like, whoa, this is really cool,
and so I was like, okay, let me try this.
And so now I'm here and then I'm like, this
is pretty fun.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Oh okay, Carter with I know you're not the main
person doing the artwork, but do you do you see?
What do you see when you're doing when you're working
with your sister? How does that feel working with her
doing the stuff with her, the art, artwork and whatever
you're doing with her? How do you know? What's that
(18:34):
journey feel like for a brother and his sister.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
It's kind of shame like doing the artwork and life
really like feeling out like the stickers on the bags.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
And okay, all right, that's cool, sister. How do you feel?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I just enjoy anytime.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I'm like I get to make jewelry because I feel
like it's such like an important thing to me. And
it also, like my brother said, it's really relaxing and
just like sitting in our home and just like making jewelry.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It's like it's really fun for me.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Do you wear I'm assuming you wear some of the
stuff you make?
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
No, actually I don't have my ears pears, and so
I just like making it and seeing my creations on
other people.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
That okay, cool, Kimberly. Do you ever like decide I
got to make something? I want to eat something? Do
you ever decide to do that or is it always
just for the art?
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I think mainly just for the art, because I mean
I do piano outside of school and so most of
my time is sucked into that. But I mean sometimes
if I do want to make something, yeah, I'll go
for it and I'll try my best.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
But have you ever been have you ever designed anything
custom design because someone requested it from you? Like, has
anyone ever asked Kimbali? Has any anyone ever asked, yeah,
can you make that for me? Like aside from the
artwork yourself? Right?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
I did get one request by a high score to
make peppermint bark for him or science costs, but like.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Other than that, Okay, how about Nika, Have you ever
had a request for jewelry?
Speaker 5 (20:28):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (20:29):
I have.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
My mom was posting some of my creations on social
media and someone reached out to me and she wanted
Lego ear rings like so little like Lego figurines as
ear rings. So I used some of my own legos
and then we also bought some. But I drilled a
(20:52):
hole on top of their head and I had to
stick a screw inside.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I mail it to them and then they sent me
a picture of them.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Wearing it and it was on it's just the way
you we're describing it, drilling the hole in the town,
just like all right, well that's that's good. So here's
the art. Do you do anything for our I guess
that's good. Great. We've been showcasing and talking a lot
about oura and food and stuff. What are you looking
forward to this year's wesley An Artists Market? What is
(21:28):
it that's looking forward? You have this this three of
you out of twenty four other students. Have you seen
or talk to other students and what they're doing for
the for the show, for the market? What are you
looking forward to to me? Yeah, sure, let's go to it.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yes, Kimberly and I are actually really good friends. So
we've been like talking with our other friends that are
doing the arts market and you know what they're selling,
and yeah, I'm just really excited because we've never my
brother and I have never done something like this before.
So I think it'll be a really good opportunity and
it'll be fun.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
So excellent, something something wholly new, that's good, good experience.
How about you, Kimberly?
Speaker 5 (22:09):
So ever since last year. I was really astonished by
everything I saw, even if it was like the adult artist,
but like the like the student artists. They were all
so talented. I know, like a few other people are
making food art and people like Nita Armani jewelry, and
so I'm honestly really inspired and just really blown away
(22:33):
by all the effort that everyone puts in.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Anything that I've not touched on. Guys that you want
to share about individually, about what you know, what it
takes to do what you're doing, or your experience at Wesleyan,
why don't we start with Kimberleka.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I don't really have much. I feel like this was
a really nice opportunity to be able to like share
what like westling artists market as well, and like how
students have been able to participate in MIKA.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Oh yeah, so my mom printed out pictures of our
time in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
So this first.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
One, it's all the bags of food that my old
school donated to families in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Excellent, OK, I got it.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
I'm glad you printed those, huh.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And then this is my old class.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
This was this year when I sent my profits back
to the Philippines and those are all the boxes of
food and clothes that they wow get with that money.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
So you really did make a lot of money. That's good,
that's great. And maybe at some point I'll ask Camille
on this getting some pictures from you all of some
of the artwork that you've done. I'd love to include
that when we post the podcast as well. And if
you have any social media that where you post your
art work on, if it's public, feel free. We're going
(24:03):
to be sharing this and we'll be taking you all
as well. I think we got everything covered. I mean,
you all just unbelievable kids. You're just doing great work
and I'm just like, it's always great to talk to
you to Wesleyan students just like well, to students that
are motivated put it that way to do things. So
(24:25):
glad to see that you're doing all sorts of things.
And I still can't wrap my head around seventy five countries.
I'm just still trying to think that just like in
five years, I can't even see doing that. But I
want to thank you all for joining me. So this
is Wesley and Audist Market you all will be at,
and that's April Friday, the twenty fifth from ten to
(24:46):
seven pm and Saturday, April twenty six from ten to
three pm. We've been talking with Kimberly Wang who does
food art Edible food Art, and Nika and her brother
Carter Jensen, who do jewelry. Appreciate you guys being with
me and being so talkative and just being good good guests.
(25:07):
So thank you all hanging there with me for a second.
Everyone else, I want to say thank you again for
joining us. You can find out more about Wesley and
Artist Market from just going to Wesleyanschool dot org or
just googling Wesley and Artist Market. It will pop up
for you and it's open to the public Friday and
Saturday in April, so check them out. Visit the twenty
(25:29):
four students that are displaying their artwork as well, along
with the over I think it's over seventy professional artists there.
And thank you all from I guess you're in Wesley
and Wolf TV station too, so appy good to doing
that with me, So thank you everyone. Stay well.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Thanks for listening to Peachtree Corners Life with Rico Figliolini.
You can listen to the show wherever podcasts are found,
like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Leave us a review too,
it helps others find the show as well. Don't forget
to like our Facebook page and YouTube channel for notifications
of our live simulcast video streams of the show. Catch
(26:14):
our other podcast shows at Living in Peachtree Corners dot com.
In fact, you can listen to our other popular show,
The Capitalist Sage, a twice a month podcast about and
four businesses. The show brings you interviews with business owners,
leaders and subject matter experts. Find what you need to
meet today's challenges that every business owner faces. Check out
(26:36):
the show at The Capitalistsage dot com
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com